Stress management key to a healthy mind
DEPRESSION is a psychological disease that severely affects individuals, be it men or women, children or the elderly. It involves the feelings of sadness, disappointment, hurt, or loss of hope to continue living.
Prolonged depression influences a person’s mind, causing one’s senses to deteriorate, affecting thoughts, feelings, behaviour and wellbeing. Studies show that depression can negatively affect a person’s health, relationships and social environment.
Triggered by stress, it can bring about psychological and physiological disruptions and further contribute to subconscious behaviour. In this state, one will find it hard to make sound judgments and may do something unexpected like attempting suicide, hurting or killing people.
In theory, the issues of stress and depression are inseparable. Studies show that depression will happen due to financial and marital problems. A failure to balance the demands of life and the environment can trigger emotional disturbance and stress.
If the problem is allowed to continue unabated, depression will take place. Other external factors which contribute to depression are neighbourhood, family background, social environment and lifestyle.
Before depression becomes detrimental to a person’s life, we must make a concerted effort to treat it. An effective stress management strategy is needed. We should educate people about depression and the three basic stress management strategies.
FIRST, express stress without being aggressive. Expression of feelings is essential to avoid high blood pressure;
SECOND, set a limit in your mind to relieve stress. Educate yourself to stop thinking negatively and instead focus on the positive, and;
THIRD, embark on mind therapy to maintain rational thinking and calmness. Being at peace controls our heart rate and eases stress.
We need to treat a person with depression, especially when he is unaware of it. Thus, early knowledge about stress and depression is crucial to prevent suicides.
Every person needs to understand the impacts of stress and depression. It can improve society’s wellbeing and mental health. By doing so, it can reduce the number of individuals with depression.
Ongoing awareness campaigns about the importance of managing stress and depression may produce emotional and mental strength crucial to people as they face the impacts brought by the Covid-19 pandemic. The key to mental health is to overcome stress effectively and not to let it take control of our lives.
If not addressed, depression will come about. We do not want to read any more tragic cases of suicide by depressed individuals due to the pandemic. What more if it involves our family members. We must live our lives in good mental health. We must also appreciate the value of humanity.
From laypeople to the leaders in the country, everyone must exercise their role to achieve this noble intention. People from all levels of society must put in concerted efforts to address this issue before the rate of suicide cases worsen.
DR ZAFIR KHAN MOHAMED MAKHBUL
Professor and dean
UKM-Graduate School of Business Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia